NCJ Number
63957
Date Published
1979
Length
163 pages
Annotation
THE PROCEEDINGS FROM THE WORKSHOP ON FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND EXPERT WITNESSES SPONSORED BY THE WEST GERMAN FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ARE PUBLISHED.
Abstract
THE WORKSHOP, WHICH INCLUDED AMONG ITS SPEAKERS JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, FORENSIC SCIENTISTS, JOURNALISTS, AND POLICE EXPERTS, FOCUSED ON LEGAL, CRIMINOLOGICAL, AND SCIENTIFIC IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE. PRESENTATIONS DEAL WITH THE ATTITUDES OF THE CRIMINOLOGIST, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND THE JUDGE TOWARDS DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE (DEFINED AS MATERIAL EVIDENCE AND EXPERT WITNESSES). A BRITISH CRIMINOLOGIST SUMS UP THE STATE OF FORENSIC RESEARCH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE POSITION OF EXPERT WITNESSES IN COURT IS DISCUSSED FROM DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. THREE GROUP DISCUSSIONS DEBATE ON CRIME SCENE SEARCHES AND OFFENSE RECONSTRUCTION, THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE WEST GERMAN FEDERAL AND STATE POLICE IN CRIMINALISTICS, AND THE REJECTION OF POLICE EXPERT WITNESSES BY THE COURTS (PROBLEM OF BIDS). THE EXPECTATIONS OF POLICE AND COURTS IN FORENSIC CRIMINOLOGY AND THE DANGER OF HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT INFRINGING ON CITIZENS' CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE EXPLAINED. A SERIES OF HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC REPORTS INCLUDES--AMONG OTHER TOPICS--THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN OFFENDER IDENTIFICATION, BREATH ANALYSIS FOR DETERMINING HUMAN ALCOHOL LEVEL, AND ELECTROSTATIC IMAGING FOR DETECTING INDENTED IMPRESSIONS. A DISCOURSE ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE IN COURT AND A PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE VALUE AND LIMITATIONS OF DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE CLOSE THE WORKSHOP. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)